- Oct 5, 2017
- 2,328
- 6,328
There's no way around how bad that loss was. That is not a great Kentucky team. In 2018, I felt they could have a good year and they were a 10 win team. In 2021, they have beaten a lot of bad teams and us close. I do not believe we are bad, but we do plenty of dumb things in coaching and on the field. I'm going to try and not let out a bunch of things that I might regret later. I'm trying to be better than that this year and games like this make it hard.
Offense
I'll start at the top, not switching QB's at this point would be a joke. Yes, AR grounded a ball when an offsides rusher created pressure on a third down and everyone knew a flag was coming. That play is the reason a good portion of fans think on Twitter he can't pass the ball and shouldn't play. However, I watched a guy cost us the game with a pick by locking on to a first read when another seam route was open for 6. I've seen that same QB struggle with throws beyond 5 yards for 5 games now and has thrown 6 INT's in 5 games. I have seen that QB throw into quadruple and triple coverage multiple times, including said INT and to end the game. I've seen that QB have 7 downs in the redzone to tie the game and fail miserably. Not all of it is on him, but if he could read a defense it would make a difference. It's year 4, I'm off that train.
The playcalling was suspect at best in important moments. Announcing to the world you do not have faith in your offense by not trying to score with 1:30 and 3 TO's at the end of a half is stupid. Running a few plays with no intention of scoring and therefore risking players to injury is malicious. QB draws on 2nd and goal from the 14, really? I mean it worked some during the night, but UK knows Mullen's tendency to run QB draws in the redzone, do you really think other coaches haven't done scouting?
Pierce continues to do well and it still doesn't matter. We had to keep trying to run right because there is little confidence in Reese's pulling ability. The false starts are coaching. As much as I want to hate on the O-line, and it is somewhat their fault. The fact there were not any adjustments made and we looked unprepared for a hostile environment is all on the coaches. I can't fully hate on the line as QB's did get time to throw, and Kentucky schemed well to slow down the run. What we did with those opportunities is another question. We did see two major phantom holding calls, but that is not why we lost. I mean, one did set up the blocked FG that changed the game, but there were too many coaching issues piled on top of each other to blame it on these. The game shouldn't have been this close after a while.
Defense
I'll be controversial here. The defense played great and gave up 7 points. I know, technically, they gave up a TD on a short field after a pick, but a lot of defenses do give up TD's after a turnover where the offense gets the ball inside of the 30. Also, they got a 3 and out to give UF a chance to tie. As written above, we squandered their effort.
The defense gave up 87 yards passing, half of which was on one play. That's a good number. Hell, Mullen isn't wrong about the yards, our defense came to play. His offense did not. That's the problem.
Cox did a fairly good job setting the edge on a few occasions and Carter is still a monster averaging 1 sack a game. A number that should raise against Vandy this week. Hopper did well tackling and made a few nice plays. Blades, Perkins, Helm, and especially Marshall did well this week covering for Elam's absence. I wouldn't play Elam against Vandy this week to make sure he's ready for Death Valley. The experience these four have gotten in a hostile environment should pay dividends in the future.
I can't really dog this defense this week.
Special Teams
This unit was not good. I can say, "Yay! We blocked an extra point!", but it wouldn't matter. We allowed the momentum and score to change with a poor FG attempt by all involved. Can't be made about the return after the block as even my lowly Jaguars got a kick 6 last week.
Extra Points
Here is what is most frustrating. We have plenty of talent on this team, but it is obviously not being used to its max potential. We have receivers getting open, but a QB that can't read the field. We don't even try to take deep shots despite having the protection time. Let the players try to make plays. We have running backs that don't go down with first contact getting limited carries. We've seen this defense three and out every team, but then allow long drives. It is almost starting to feel like 2017, where I knew there was talent and the right coach could do much better with it. I don't like that feeling.
Go Gators!
Offense
I'll start at the top, not switching QB's at this point would be a joke. Yes, AR grounded a ball when an offsides rusher created pressure on a third down and everyone knew a flag was coming. That play is the reason a good portion of fans think on Twitter he can't pass the ball and shouldn't play. However, I watched a guy cost us the game with a pick by locking on to a first read when another seam route was open for 6. I've seen that same QB struggle with throws beyond 5 yards for 5 games now and has thrown 6 INT's in 5 games. I have seen that QB throw into quadruple and triple coverage multiple times, including said INT and to end the game. I've seen that QB have 7 downs in the redzone to tie the game and fail miserably. Not all of it is on him, but if he could read a defense it would make a difference. It's year 4, I'm off that train.
The playcalling was suspect at best in important moments. Announcing to the world you do not have faith in your offense by not trying to score with 1:30 and 3 TO's at the end of a half is stupid. Running a few plays with no intention of scoring and therefore risking players to injury is malicious. QB draws on 2nd and goal from the 14, really? I mean it worked some during the night, but UK knows Mullen's tendency to run QB draws in the redzone, do you really think other coaches haven't done scouting?
Pierce continues to do well and it still doesn't matter. We had to keep trying to run right because there is little confidence in Reese's pulling ability. The false starts are coaching. As much as I want to hate on the O-line, and it is somewhat their fault. The fact there were not any adjustments made and we looked unprepared for a hostile environment is all on the coaches. I can't fully hate on the line as QB's did get time to throw, and Kentucky schemed well to slow down the run. What we did with those opportunities is another question. We did see two major phantom holding calls, but that is not why we lost. I mean, one did set up the blocked FG that changed the game, but there were too many coaching issues piled on top of each other to blame it on these. The game shouldn't have been this close after a while.
Defense
I'll be controversial here. The defense played great and gave up 7 points. I know, technically, they gave up a TD on a short field after a pick, but a lot of defenses do give up TD's after a turnover where the offense gets the ball inside of the 30. Also, they got a 3 and out to give UF a chance to tie. As written above, we squandered their effort.
The defense gave up 87 yards passing, half of which was on one play. That's a good number. Hell, Mullen isn't wrong about the yards, our defense came to play. His offense did not. That's the problem.
Cox did a fairly good job setting the edge on a few occasions and Carter is still a monster averaging 1 sack a game. A number that should raise against Vandy this week. Hopper did well tackling and made a few nice plays. Blades, Perkins, Helm, and especially Marshall did well this week covering for Elam's absence. I wouldn't play Elam against Vandy this week to make sure he's ready for Death Valley. The experience these four have gotten in a hostile environment should pay dividends in the future.
I can't really dog this defense this week.
Special Teams
This unit was not good. I can say, "Yay! We blocked an extra point!", but it wouldn't matter. We allowed the momentum and score to change with a poor FG attempt by all involved. Can't be made about the return after the block as even my lowly Jaguars got a kick 6 last week.
Extra Points
- Does it get much worse than FSU getting their first win and losing to Kentucky on the same day?
- Saw a few people saying its better for UF when FSU and Miami are good. Can anyone explain that nonsense? Is there a correlation between our records? I mean FSU won a Natty when we went 4-8 so I don't think that's true.
- Unless AR15 is starting, I am starting to believe the scoring streak may come to an end in Jacksonville.
- UF is 1-5 in their last 6 against Power 5 teams. That's the Stat.
- Mullen is 4-8 against UK, Bama, LSU, and UGA at UF. Number could get worse by the end of the year.
- At least Miami is still a dumpster fire.
Here is what is most frustrating. We have plenty of talent on this team, but it is obviously not being used to its max potential. We have receivers getting open, but a QB that can't read the field. We don't even try to take deep shots despite having the protection time. Let the players try to make plays. We have running backs that don't go down with first contact getting limited carries. We've seen this defense three and out every team, but then allow long drives. It is almost starting to feel like 2017, where I knew there was talent and the right coach could do much better with it. I don't like that feeling.
Go Gators!
